---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: humorous writing, the exclamation mark is…"
description: "\"“humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent of canned laughter (F. Scott Fitzgerald – that well-known knockabout gag-man – said it was li..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png"
---

#  humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent…

![“humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent of canned laughter (F. Scott Fitzgerald – that well-known knockabout gag-man – said it was like laughing at your own jokes),” quote by Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png)

> ““humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent of canned laughter (F. Scott Fitzgerald – that well-known knockabout gag-man – said it was like laughing at your own jokes),””

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humorous writing uses punctuation like an exclamation mark to signal laughter, similar to canned audience reaction.

**In simple terms:** Exclamation marks act as built‑in laughter cues.

Key Takeaway

Use punctuation deliberately for tone.

Themes

humor writing punctuation tone communication

Mood

playful ironic analytical

Type

observational instructional

When to use this quote

- stand‑up comedy scripts
- satirical articles
- blog posts
- advertising copy

Key Concepts

Comedy theory linguistic signaling reader response

Questions to Reflect On

- How does punctuation shape reader expectations?
- When does a joke become too obvious?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance can make humor feel forced or artificial.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Exclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclamation/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“is only one thing more mortifying than having an exclamation mark removed by an editor: an exclamation mark added in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/is-only-one-thing-more-mortifying-than-having-an-exclamation-mark/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [In the family of punctuation, where the full stop is daddy and the comma is mummy, and the semicolon quietly practises the piano with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/in-the-family-of-punctuation-where-the-full-stop-is-daddy-and-the/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“The almost-always-ghastly exclamation point has been lately compared to canned laughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-almost-always-ghastly-exclamation-point-has-been-lately-compared/)

[George will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [“What is it about us lady authors and our fascination for the exclamation mark?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/what-is-it-about-us-lady-authors-and-our-fascination-for-the/)

[E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/)

> [A tired exclamation mark is a question mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-tired-exclamation-mark-is-a-question-mark/)

[Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/)

> [It's always nice to end your sentences with an exclamation mark, and not a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-santiago/it-s-always-nice-to-end-your-sentences-with-an-exclamation-mark-and/)

[Joey Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-santiago/)

> [So far as good writing goes, the use of the exclamation mark is a sign of failure. It is the literary equivalent of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-kington/so-far-as-good-writing-goes-the-use-of-the-exclamation-mark-is-a-sign/)

[Miles Kington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-kington/)

> [All great ideas should be followed by an exclamation mark - a warning signal similar to the skull and crossbones drawn on high-voltage transformers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/all-great-ideas-should-be-followed-by-an-exclamation-mark-a-warning/)

[Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/)

> [“Ellipses," according to Henry, are "fucking excellent." The exclamation mark is just a weird guy who talks too loudly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/ellipses-according-to-henry-are-fucking-excellent-the-exclamation/)

[Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/)

> [The knowledgeable person lives with a question mark '?' and the man of awe and wonder lives with an exclamation mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-knowledgeable-person-lives-with-a-question-mark-and-the-man-of/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Humorous writing is often thought of as substandard in comparison to work with a more dramatic or tragic intent. I don't know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/humorous-writing-is-often-thought-of-as-substandard-in-comparison-to/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [“I had a dream about you. You sold canned laughter, and I sold fresh laughter, straight out of my throat. You sold more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-had-a-dream-about-you-you-sold-canned-laughter-and-i-sold-fresh/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Frankly, I find even the most mindless lolcat sites on the Internet to be an improvement over canned-laughter-filled sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/frankly-i-find-even-the-most-mindless-lolcat-sites-on-the-internet-to/)

[Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/)

> [“A standard feature of situation comedy has some form of the main character "talking trash" to someone about a husband, wife, girl friend, boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-albrecht/a-standard-feature-of-situation-comedy-has-some-form-of-the-main/)

[Karl Albrecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-albrecht/)

> [I really hate sitcoms on television with canned laughter and stuff. What really makes me laugh is the real-life stuff. I've got a dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-price/i-really-hate-sitcoms-on-television-with-canned-laughter-and-stuff/)

[Katie Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-price/)

## More by Lynne Truss

> [Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/punctuation-marks-are-the-traffic-signals-of-language-they-tell-us-to/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [Evidently an A level in English is a sacred trust, like something out of "The Lord of the Rings". You must go forth with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/evidently-an-a-level-in-english-is-a-sacred-trust-like-something-out/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [Texting is a supremely secretive medium of communication - it's like passing a note - and this means we should be very careful what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/texting-is-a-supremely-secretive-medium-of-communication-it-s-like/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“Part of one's despair, of course, is that the world cares nothing for the little shocks endured by the sensitive stickler. While we look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/part-of-one-s-despair-of-course-is-that-the-world-cares-nothing-for/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [For any true stickler, you see, the sight of the plural word “Book’s” with an apostrophe in it will trigger a ghastly private emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/for-any-true-stickler-you-see-the-sight-of-the-plural-word-book-s/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [Brackets come in various shapes, types and names: 1 round brackets (which we call brackets, and the Americans call parentheses) 2 square brackets \[which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/brackets-come-in-various-shapes-types-and-names-1-round-brackets/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [Texting is a fundamentally sneaky form of communication, which we should despise, but it is such a boon we don't care. We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/texting-is-a-fundamentally-sneaky-form-of-communication-which-we/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [My favorite thing in the world is a quiz show, 'University Challenge,' so you can see what kind of sad person I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/my-favorite-thing-in-the-world-is-a-quiz-show-university-challenge-so/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“nothing is straightforward in the world of literary taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/nothing-is-straightforward-in-the-world-of-literary-taste/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [Punctuation is a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/punctuation-is-a-courtesy-designed-to-help-readers-to-understand-a/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“one might dare to say that while the full stop is the lumpen male of the punctuation world (do one job at a time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/one-might-dare-to-say-that-while-the-full-stop-is-the-lumpen-male-of/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [The main advantage of working at home is that you get to find out what cats really do all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/the-main-advantage-of-working-at-home-is-that-you-get-to-find-out/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“I think about death sometimes. Analytically, of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/i-think-about-death-sometimes-analytically-of-course/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“For the first time since she met him, she asked herself whether mr Dodgson was really the sunny personality she had at first imagined.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/for-the-first-time-since-she-met-him-she-asked-herself-whether-mr/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

> [“All the important roles shortly boiled down to one: remember your with other people; show some consideration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/all-the-important-roles-shortly-boiled-down-to-one-remember-your-with/)

[Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

[Explore all 115 Lynne Truss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/)

## More Exclamation quotes

> [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/)

[Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/)

> [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Do we want blanks, asterisks and exclamation marks which people can fill in with their own imaginations, or are we prepared and strong enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/do-we-want-blanks-asterisks-and-exclamation-marks-which-people-can/)

[John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/)

> [And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-all-those-exclamation-marks-you-notice-five-a-sure-sign-of/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Charlotte slammed the paper down onto her desk with an exclamation of rage. “Aloysius Starkweather is the most stubborn, hypocritical, obstinate, degenerate—” She broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/charlotte-slammed-the-paper-down-onto-her-desk-with-an-exclamation-of/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I want to change my punctuation. I long for exclamation marks, but I'm drowning in ellipses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/i-want-to-change-my-punctuation-i-long-for-exclamation-marks-but-i-m/)

[Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/)

> [“Ellipses," according to Henry, are "fucking excellent." The exclamation mark is just a weird guy who talks too loudly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/ellipses-according-to-henry-are-fucking-excellent-the-exclamation/)

[Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/)

> [Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/five-exclamation-marks-the-sure-sign-of-an-insane-mind/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Numbersign questionmark you" and "Asterisk exclamation point the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/numbersign-questionmark-you-and-asterisk-exclamation-point-the-world/)

[Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/)

> [I love to accent movement. The eye goes to where the white is - you know, the glove. And the feet, if you're dancing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-love-to-accent-movement-the-eye-goes-to-where-the-white-is-you-know/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?' she whispered, after some time of delicious silence. 'Let me speak to her.' 'Oh, no! I owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/how-shall-i-ever-tell-aunt-shaw-she-whispered-after-some-time-of/)

[Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/)

> [“(I know, multiple exclamation marks are the sign of a deranged mind, but I’ve reached the age where I no longer care.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maxfield/i-know-multiple-exclamation-marks-are-the-sign-of-a-deranged-mind-but/)

Clive Maxfield

> [“I like you, period." "I like you, exclamation point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/i-like-you-period-i-like-you-exclamation-point/)

[Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/)

> [20 or 30 exclamation points can go a long way to making the tone of your email excited and cheerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/20-or-30-exclamation-points-can-go-a-long-way-to-making-the-tone-of/)

[Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/)

[Browse all 121 Exclamation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclamation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent of canned laughter (F. Scott Fitzgerald – that well-known knockabout gag-man – said it was like laughing at your own jokes),”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lynne Truss"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is-the-equivalent-of-canned/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Exclamation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is-the-equivalent-of-canned/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/lynne-truss-4153_exclamation_humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is_1167448.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“humorous writing, the exclamation mark is the equivalent of canned laughter (F. Scott Fitzgerald – that…” — Lynne Truss",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lynne Truss",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“humorous writing, the exclamation mark is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is-the-equivalent-of-canned/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/humorous-writing-the-exclamation-mark-is-the-equivalent-of-canned/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```